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Category: travel

Frankenmuth-Michigans little Bavaria

Ahhhh….Frankenmuth. When I was a kid I remember jumping in my grandparents motor home and driving the hour and half to Frankenmuth, chatting excitedly with my brother about what we will see at the worlds largest Christmas Store-Bronners and what yummy delights we will eat the Bavarian Inn. Those memories I still cherish today and so it was with excitement that I was able to take my husband to this little Bavaria in the heart of Michigan and show him what I enjoyed as a kid.

Take a trip to Frankenmuth, Michigan to experience a little bit of Germany

Frankenmuth History

The city’s name is a combination of two words. “Franken” represents the Province of Franconia in the Kingdom of Bavaria, home of the Franks, where the original settlers were from. The German word “Mut” means courage; thus, the name Frankenmuth means “courage of the Franconians.” The area was settled and named in 1845 by conservative Lutheran immigrants from Roßtal area of Franconia (now part of Bavaria) in Germany. The group of settlers left Germany on April 20, 1845 and arrived at Castle Garden seven weeks later. They traveled via canals and the Great Lakes from New York to Detroit and arrived in August 1845. Sailing on the Nelson Smith, the settlers made their way to Saginaw and travelled over land to the present location the city of Frankenmuth. Originally part of Bridgeport Township and later Frankenmuth Township, Frankenmuth became a village in 1904 and finally a city on October 1, 1959 (Wikipedia).

Our Trip

No trip to Frankenmuth is complete without stopping in at the “World’s largest Christmas Store-Bronners” on your way into the city. This place is so HUGE and is wall to wall Christmas every day of the year, complete with Christmas music and giants Santas. I even ended up spending my yearly “new ornaments” Christmas budget in a matter of 20 mins here…opps lol!

Santa statue at the World's largest Christmas Store-Bronners in Frankenmuth, Michigan.

My husband makes me laugh all the time 🙂

Giant Christmas Balls at the World's largest Christmas Store-Bronners in Frankenmuth, Michigan.

My best pin-up pose with a polar bear lol 😛

Polar Bear seat at the World's largest Christmas Store-Bronners in Frankenmuth, Michigan.
Visit the World's largest Christmas Store-Bronners in Frankenmuth, Michigan.

This is what you see EVERYWHERE in this store! Christmas explosion!

Christmas Tree Decorations at the World's largest Christmas Store-Bronners in Frankenmuth, Michigan.

My husband’s fav tree….The BEER TREE!

Beer Christmas Tree at the World's largest Christmas Store-Bronners in Frankenmuth, Michigan.

Me in a sea of pretty Christmas Trees.

Blue lights for Christmas Trees at the World's largest Christmas Store-Bronners in Frankenmuth, Michigan.

Frog tree anyone?

Frog Christmas Tree at the World's largest Christmas Store-Bronners in Frankenmuth, Michigan.

After Bronners we drove into the city and decided to hit up the oldest brewery In Frankenmuth that has been around since 1862.

Funny story, my husband sat down at the bar and asked the bartender “if the brewery had been around a long time?” and she responds with “you could say that” lol! That was before we read our menu that said the history of the brewery.

Frankenmuth Brewery-Oldest Brewery in Frankenmuth, Michigan.

We wanted to try all the beers and the best way to do that is with a sampler, but look how they are served?? In the cutest littlest steins EVER! love love love 🙂

Selection of Beers at Frankenmuth Brewery
Enjoying mini samples of beer at the Frankenmuth Brewery
Frankenmuth Brewery around since 1862,

After sitting at the bar for a bit we were able to get out onto the patio for a pint and small bite to eat (don’t want to ruin our german meal later on).

Just look at how pretty the view was and check out the cool boat coming down the river! It was a really good place to just hang out and enjoy the warm summer weather.

Frankenmuth Brewery patio view of the river and a mini steamboat.

After our beer and snack we wandered the city for the next while, taking in all the European style buildings and fun stores.

Frankenmuth, Michigan-The Marv Herzog Hotel looking like a Bavaria, German building.
Welcome to Frankenmuth, Michigan's little Bavaria

Along with Beer, my husband and I also love Cheese! So it was with great excitement that we found this cute guy outside of the Frankenmuth Cheese Haus. Many pictures were taken and lots of cheese was eaten (not from this block though lol).

Frankenmuth Cheese House / Haus featuring a statue of a giant mouse poking it's head out of cheese.

Such a pretty town.

Frankenmuth, Michigan.

We wanted to learn more about Frankenmuth so we took a stop into the museum and of course I managed to find the coolest pic from the 1950’s of a German party complete with cute dirndls and Lederhosen. This pic reminded so much of the images I have seen of my Grandparents partying it up in the German club in the 60’s that I just had to take this picture.

The one below is of a girls sports team in the 1950’s I believe and I just thought they looked so adorable in their matching uniforms.

1950s Vintage Photo of a 1950's of a German party complete with cute dirndls and Lederhosen seen in the Museum at Frankenmuth, Michigan. The pictures also features the Frankenmuth 1950s Cheerleaders.

In our travels we found a “Swing dancing beer!”. The Lindy Hopper I am squeals in delight 🙂

Victory Beer-Swing a session saison beer.
Frankenmuth, Michigan.

The beautiful Bavarian Inn where we had a traditional German meal. I will admit though that while the food was good my Omi’s & my mom’s German dishes are better…sorry Bavarian Inn!

Frankenmuth-Bavarian Inn searving the world famous chicken dinners in their cute Bavarian style buiilding.

Beer Garden complete with the CUTEST couple singing German Oktoberfest tunes all afternoon.

Frankenmuth-Bavarian Inn bels, clbock and a patio.

Ohhh a pretty 1920s car!

Frankenmuth, Michigan 1920s car on display.

Covered bridges are the best!

Frankenmuth, Michigan Covered Bridge.

Adorable shopping area they created to fit the look of the other businesses already established in the town.

Frankenmuth, Michigan street view.
Frankenmuth, Michigan street view.

Maggi…Growing up my mother always had Maggi in the cupboard and when she cooked she would always say “Add Maggi it makes everything taste so much better”. My Omi (grandmother) has Maggi on hand as well and so does her boyfriend but I thought it was just my strange German family who liked it. UNTIL…we went in this store and everything in this store was “Bavarian Specialities” direct from Germany, nothing cheap and cheesy here and there was THIS display of Maggi on the shelf, right above the red cabbage. So the mystery is solved, it is a German thing! lol

Bottles of Maggi as seen in Frankenmuth, Michigan.

What a cute Moose! The Frankenmoose!

Frankenmuth, Michigan-The Frankenmoose!
Frankenmuth, Michigan street view.
Frankenmuth, Michigan-Zehnder's Famous Frankenmuth Chicken Dinners vintage mid century sign. .

Look I found myself on a wine bottle! hahaha I WISH!

Wine bottle with pinup on it-Turn Me Red.

Bye Bye Frankenmuth, thanks for the fun!

Frankenmuths, Michigan-Bavarian Inn

There you have it, our little day getaway to Frankenmuth. Have you been on any fun summer trips this year?

Liz

Let’s Go To Acapulco, Mexico Circa 1950’s & 1960’s

The other day I was looking for the Elvis Presley’s movie “Blue Hawaii” and I ended up stumbling upon his 1963 movie “Fun in Acapulco” and got to thinking about how I use to want to visit Acapulco only on the basis that it sounded so cool and very exotic. So why don’t you join me for a vintage trip to this lovely Mexican City and we can pretend together that we are laying on the lovely beaches and swimming in the cool pools circa 1955 🙂

Vintage Movie Poster for Elvis Fun in Acapulco
Vintage Acapulco Travel Poster for American Airlines

Let’s Visit Acapulco!

1950’s & 1960’s Vintage Photos & Advertising

According to Wikipedia: “During the 1950s, Acapulco became the fashionable place for millionaire Hollywood stars such as Elizabeth Taylor, Frank Sinatra, Eddie Fisher and Brigitte Bardot. Former Swing Musician Teddy Stauffer, so called “Mister Acapulco”, was a hotel manager (“Villa Vera”, “Casablanca”), who attracted a lot of celebrities to Acapulco and boosted it to popularity (Source)”.

Here are the Kennedy’s honeymooning in Acapulco, September 1953.

1950s Vintage Photo of the Kennedy's honeymoon in Acapulco September 1953

1957-Acapulco, Mexico: Portrait of Elizabeth Taylor and husband Mike Todd at their honeymoon retreat.

1950s Vintage Photo: 1957-Acapulco, Mexico: Portrait of Elizabeth Taylor and husband Mike Todd at their honeymoon retreat.

Photo by LIFE photographer Paul Schutzer for the visit of President Eisenhower in 1959.

1950s Vintage Photo of Acapulco, Mexico. Photo by LIFE photographer Paul Schutzer for the visit of President Eisenhower in 1959

1959 Travel Ad for Luxury Vacations to Mexico featuring a couple in 1950s swimsuits hanging out on the beach.

1950s Vintage Advertising: 1959 Travel Ad for Luxury Vacations to Mexico featuring a couple in 1950s swimsuits hanging out on the beach.

The exotic resorts to stay while visiting the city…..

Vintage Photo of Resorts & beaches in the 1950s and 1960s in Acapulco Mexico
Vintage Postcard: Vintage Photo of Resorts & beaches in the 1950s and 1960s in Acapulco Mexico
images credit: declampe.co.uk
Vintage Photo a Resort in the 1950s and 1960s in Acapulco Mexico

Now look at all the fun you can have! This 1950’s of a tropical party on a balcony overlooking a beach in Mexico. This picture is amazing…times a thousand!

1950's of a tropical party on a balcony overlooking a beach in Mexico, Acapulco
Photo Credit: Slim Aarons via Everyday I Show

Pool Time! 1950’s photo

1950s Vintage Photo of a 1950s Resort Pool in Acapulco, Mexico.
Vintage Travel Poster for visiting Acapulco Mexico

Ahhh now I want to put on my new vintage bathing suit and jet off to an exotic island for the week, especially since summer here in Canada has been yucky.

Have you ever been to Acapulco? Share in the comments section below.

FURTHER READING: Vintage Travel Posts from the 1920s-1960s (and modern content) from the Vintage Inn Blog

Liz